Big things come in small packages. When those packages are earth-friendly, even better. No one knows this maxim better than Dallasite B.A. Norrgard. A tiny house owner and founding member of Tiny House Collaborative, Norrgard is on the leading edge of the tiny house movement.

"We've gone past the hip and trendy. It's much more accepted than it has been," says Norrgard, owner of A Bed Over My Head, which advocates for the tiny house effort.

The miniature homes take two forms, permanent and portable, and appeal to a broad range of home buyers. Most cost less than $35,000 and range in size from 120 to 400 square feet. Styles range from country comfy to artful contemporary.

Norrgard will be at Earth Day Texas at Fair Park April 21-23 to showcase her home along with 12 others and conduct workshops.

Demere O'Dell's tiny house has a loft bedroom.

(Jae S. Lee/Staff Photographer)

Norrgard attributes the homes' popularity to a desire for a simplified lifestyle that offers freedom from material possessions and obligations.

"To live in a tiny house successfully is a lifestyle change. It's an intentional approach to living," Norrgard says.

"The beauty of a tiny house is that you figure what you want your life to be, and you design a house to hold that. It's so nice to have a simplified life."

It's about sustainability

While some tiny homes are eco-friendlier than others, all have a lower impact on the environment than a standard house. A smaller carbon footprint, lower energy usage and reduced use of CO2, not to mention fewer materials needed to build and furnish the homes, make them a green option.

"It's about sustainability and being off the grid. They have a small impact on the Earth. My house has no chemical in it except for the insulation. I plug it in like an RV, but my entire house runs on one 110 outlet," Norrgard says.

Demere O'Dell is bringing her tiny house to Earth Day Texas at Fair Park April 21-23.

(Jae S. Lee/Staff Photographer)

Tiny houses fit the bill

Very often, tiny house owners are millennials or empty nesters who seek to own a home but avoid the burden of a hefty mortgage. With their low cost to build and maintain, these micro homes fit the bill.

"Financially they're less expensive. There's a lot less to worry about," says Norrgard.

One empty nester, who will be bringing her home to Earth Day Texas at Fair Park, admits to building her tiny house for just these reasons. In 2015, Demere O'Dell felt the need for a lifestyle change. Her 1,240-square-foot house in Richardson had become too big a burden and was siphoning time from favorite activities.

"It started to envelop me. I started asking myself, 'What is it I really want?' I wanted to get out of my big house and into a small house fast," says O'Dell, 48.

After attending a workshop sponsored by a tiny house builder, she settled on a 170-square-foot plan with loft area. The design would fit a 20-foot trailer, providing O'Dell with the flexibility to travel with her new home.

"I wanted mobility. I didn't want to purchase land," she says of her home, now stationed in Blue Ridge.

Tiny wish list

O'Dell adapted the plan to fit a list of priorities she had for her lifestyle. A front porch was a top consideration. Yet with two dogs, O'Dell wanted the home to have a second door and a mudroom where the pets could enter and leave.

Stairs took the place of a ladder, both for easy access to the loft and for storage. The bath was enlarged to allow room for a tub where the dogs could be washed when necessary. A second loft was added for a visitor.

Other must-haves included space for full-size appliances, a standard farmhouse sink, and pull-out pantry shelving. The style, too, was important.

"I had a distinct vision of what I wanted. It was a shotgun house, beach-house vibe," she says.

With the help of family and friends, O'Dell built the home, now called The Little Fish House. Although the roof and solar-powered skylight were professionally installed, the remainder of the home was a DIY project.

Demere O'Dell's tiny house has a bedroom loft. There's even a tiny ceiling fan.

(Jae S. Lee/Staff Photographer)

Another one on the way?

Many of the home's decorative features were handmade by O'Dell. A stained-glass window depicting a fish is a favorite accent, as is a stained-glass pocket door dividing the bath from the mudroom. A cedar closet is hidden by a macramé cover. Other tasks included building the pull-out pantry and crafting exterior accents.

"I made all the exterior trim. I'm proud of that," she says.

O'Dell notes building the tiny house was a challenge and offers suggestions for people who'd like to build a tiny house. "Think about why you want to do it, because it's hard. You have to think about what you have and how you're going to store it. Do the soul-searching and research. It's a matter of a few steps and tenacity," she says.

Still, O'Dell would do it again. In fact, she may build another tiny house in the future.

"I like the simplicity and coziness of it. It fits like a glove. I'm home," she says.

See the houses

Both B.A. Norrgard and Demere O'Dell's tiny houses can be seen during Earth Day Texasat Fair Park, April 21 - 23, where 13 homes will be divided among three villages. Admission to the villages is $5. Admission to Earth Day Texas is free.

Workshops hosted by Tiny House Collaborative will be held April 22 and 23, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The workshops, $99, will feature Norrgard, Lina Menard (Niche Design and Consulting) and Lee Pera (Boneyard Studios). For more information, visit earthdaytx.org.

So you want to build a tiny house?

Not sure if tiny house living is right for you? Norrgard suggests asking questions to get a fix on your goals.

What's your reason for wanting to go small?

What things are important to you?

Are you willing to give up your book collection?

How portable is your life?

Are you willing to drive a long distance to a job or school?

Are you resourceful? You have to be able to figure things out.

What is your tolerance for criticism? Going small is not always a popular decision.

Are you willing to live in a gray area of legality? Building codes and local zoning may not allow you to live or park where you want.

Planning the transition

Thinking of building or buying a tiny house? B.A. Norrgard offers a few tips for planning the transition.

Research, research, research. Get yourself inside as many houses as you can.

Experiment with living in a smaller space.

Research builders. Not all builders are experienced in building a tiny house.